Road to the White House
By Nicole Russo
Last Updated:2:17 AM EST 11/5/08 Section: Fisher Votes '08
Legally, the Electors may vote for someone other than the candidate whom they were selected to vote for. This is known as the "unfaithful" or "faithless" Elector, and generally this does not happen.
January 3
On Jan. 3, the 111th Congress, made up of House of Representatives and Senate officials elected Nov. 4, will convene in Washington, D.C.
The Senate is made up of 100 seats; two from each state. Thirty-five of the seats were contested in Tuesday's election, with the winners eligible to serve six-year terms until January 2015.
All 435 seats in the House, which is based on the population of each state, are up for re-election. House members serve two-year terms, from 2009 to 2011.
This Congress serves until Jan. 3, 2011, when the 112th Congress takes over following the election of new House representatives.
January 6
Vice President Dick Cheney, as President of the Senate, will open the certificates of the electoral votes from the various states on Jan. 6.
The ballots will be counted by two tellers each from the House and Senate. Cheney will then announce the votes for president and vice president.
Barring any objections, this formally ends the election process. However, if there are complications, the decision falls on Congress.
The Electoral College must declare the winner by an absolute majority: half the total number of votes plus one. With 538 electors, the candidate must receive at least 270 votes to be elected.
If the Electoral College fails to produce an absolute majority, the House of Respresentatives selected the new president. Each state is allowed to cast one vote, with a candidate also needing an absolute majority to win in this way. The Senate chooses the vice president in the same way.
Presidents have been elected through the House in the past, such as in the 1800 election when the House named Thomas Jefferson president when the Electoral College vote produced a tie.
January 3
On Jan. 3, the 111th Congress, made up of House of Representatives and Senate officials elected Nov. 4, will convene in Washington, D.C.
The Senate is made up of 100 seats; two from each state. Thirty-five of the seats were contested in Tuesday's election, with the winners eligible to serve six-year terms until January 2015.
All 435 seats in the House, which is based on the population of each state, are up for re-election. House members serve two-year terms, from 2009 to 2011.
This Congress serves until Jan. 3, 2011, when the 112th Congress takes over following the election of new House representatives.
January 6
Vice President Dick Cheney, as President of the Senate, will open the certificates of the electoral votes from the various states on Jan. 6.
The ballots will be counted by two tellers each from the House and Senate. Cheney will then announce the votes for president and vice president.
Barring any objections, this formally ends the election process. However, if there are complications, the decision falls on Congress.
The Electoral College must declare the winner by an absolute majority: half the total number of votes plus one. With 538 electors, the candidate must receive at least 270 votes to be elected.
If the Electoral College fails to produce an absolute majority, the House of Respresentatives selected the new president. Each state is allowed to cast one vote, with a candidate also needing an absolute majority to win in this way. The Senate chooses the vice president in the same way.
Presidents have been elected through the House in the past, such as in the 1800 election when the House named Thomas Jefferson president when the Electoral College vote produced a tie.
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